High water signal



Aug. 19, 1952 B. E. BONAR HIGH WATER SIGNAL 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 26, 1950 r a m 8 E m m w o T m m Aug. 19, 1952 B. E. BONAR HIGH WATER 'SIGNAL Filed June 26, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Bernard E. 8000! INVENTOR.

Aug. 19, 1952 B. E. BONAR 2,607,835

HIGHWATER SIGNAL Filed June 26, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l106 I}? u '88 94 1 11 l I? I ll U 1' 3'2 Fig.9

Bernard E. Bonar INVENTOR.

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Patented Aug. l9, 1952 UNITED: STATES 1 OFFICE fH'IGiiI-WATER SIGNAL; f Bernard-E. Bonar, El Paso, Tex. Application June 26, 1950, Serial No. 170,441

This invention relates to asignalling device primarily designed for use on railroads, highways, rivers, bridges or levees, and other places where flood water would be a menace. or dangerous to life and property. 7

An important object of this invention is. to provide. a high water signal comprising a housing, a signal mounted on said housing, a float mounted for vertical movementin said housing, means actuated bythe upward movement of said float for rotating said "signal from a non-danger to a danger signifying position; and means for lockingly retaining said signal in the danger sig- 'nifyingl 'position.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a high water signal of the character described where the signal includes a, panel having non-danger and danger-signifying positions, a light mounted on the signal "adjacent, the panel, and switch means in the housing 'operatively connected to the light and actuated by the 'upwar'd'movem'ent of thefioat to energize the light and at the same time rotate the panel from the non-danger to the danger-signifying. position.

These, together with various ancillary objects and featuresof the invention which will later become apparent as. the. following description proceeds, are attained by the device, a preferred embodimentfof which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein: p

Figure 1, is a perspective view of the signal;

Figure 2 is a verticaljsectional View through the signal, parts being broken away to show detailsof'construction;

Figure 31is a sectional'view taken substantially on the plane of section line'3'3 of Fig-"- ure 2;

Figure '4 is a sectional View taken'substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of 'Fi'gure2;

Figure 5 is 'a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 5.-5-:ofFigure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentarypers'pectiveview'of adetail'of construction;

Figure 'lis a perspective view. of the latch bar;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top: 'planview of another detail of construction r Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the signal rod locking device; and

Figure 10 'is a perspective view of the signal rodgui'de collar.

Specific reference is now made tov the drawi'ng'fs. In the severaiyviewsiin the accompanying drawings and inthefollowingspeeificatioh'simi- 9 Claims; (01. 177-3117 5 2;; lar= reference "characters indicatecorresponding elements throughout.

The present device isgenerally indicated at 10 and includes, a housing which may beof any desired shape but preferably rectangular and including side members [2 and I4 to the top and. bottom :of which are secured by welding'or'riveting angle irons 6- -and [8' respectively. The "side members l2 and I4 are'the'mselvesangleirons to which are secured a plate 29- ad'jacent' the upper end of the housing-and a. plate ZI-adja'cent'the lower end of the housing and extending centrally thereof for a purpose'later'to ap'pear; Appropriately securedto the upperangle memberfli is a substantially" rectangular frame member '24 while appropriately-jsecured to the lower angle member 18 is a further substantial-1y" rectangular frame merhl'aeriti.

Appropriately secured as headed bolts and nuts 28 to the top and bottom angle members l6 and l 8 as well as to the rectangularfra'mesfl and '26, are foraminou's members orscreens 30, four screens being provided' so'that the housing, in onset, has a perforated: bottom'wau as shown in Figure 3; aperforated rear 'wall as'sh'o'wn in Figure 2, and perforated sidewalls 'as shownin Figure 1. The screens are required'to-permit water to'enter the housing; andf actuate the float which willbe described hereinafter:

The front wall-of the housing constitutes 'a solid door 32 having 'a han'dle 34 the door bein hinged as at '3-6to the b'ot-tom rectangular frame member 26. The'upper wall of the'housingcorr stitutes a pair of doors 3'8 and 4ll-hing-edfas' at 42' to the upper rectangularframe member-M. The frame member 2'4"includes-acollar'4'4 that journals a latch rod' 46 which extends across the door 40 and maybe slid into engagement with a hasp or keeper 48 secured adjacent the top'u-pper end of the front door 32 asfshownclearly-in Figure 1. Secured to the pivoted or" hinged doors 38 and 40 at their point ofjunctureis a split collar 50 which slidably receives a signal rod 52' upon which is secured "apreferably circular pan'e'l 54,. the opposite facesof which "panel will contain a danger-signifying color such as red. The panel. has a certain thickness and the-peripheral edge thereof is "un'col'o-red and will constitute a non-- danger signifyingosition; Above-"the 'p'an'e1 the rod mounts four lights- "56-; two in aplane with the panel and two ina plane" perpendicular to the planeof the panel; Thel'att'er two includered lenses and the formertwogre'enlenses;

Secured by"appropriate'clamps -58 *to the in terror plates "[0 and 22' are oollarstn' turnsm 3 terior of which are secured appropriate bearings 62 which slidably journal a shaft 64 to the bottom of which is secured as at 56 a substantially rectangular float 68 which is preferably divided into compartments by means of appropriate partitions I0. The upper free end of the shaft 64 includes a knob I2 for a purpose later to appear. When the housing is placed on an appropriate site and flood waters enter the housing through the perforated walls thereof,'the float and float supporting rod 64 are lifted upwardly, and a means is provided in the present signal for rotating the panels 54 from non-danger to the danger-signifying position and for actuating the signal light 56 at the same time, which means will be clearly described hereinafter.

Secured by means of an appropriate arcuate clamp I4 to the upper plate '20 is a guide collar I6, see Figures 5, 6 and 10, which guide collar includes a spiral slot I8 and a level seat portion 80 as well as an upper closure ring 82. The signal rod 52 is really a hollow rod which is secured within a short tubular member 84 which is vertically slidable within the slotted guide collar "I6 as shown clearly in Figure 5. Secured to the signal rod 52 as at 86 is a laterally extending pin 88 which extends through the spiralslot I8 and also through a rectangular opening 90 in the support plate 20. The lateral pin 88 normally seats in the level seat portion 80 'of thespiral slot I8 and is retained in a more or less fixed, nonrotative position.

A releasable latch bar 92 is provided which is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 94 to the support plate 20. Thelatch bar 92- includes a flat upper surface 96 and an undersurface which is slotted or grooved as at 98 to slidably receive the knob I2 of the float shaft 64. The end of the latch bar 92 adjacent the pivot I4 includes a notch I00 normally receiving the laterally extending pin 88 and an enlarged shoulder I02 having a cam surface I04 rising from the notch I00.

Appropriately secured to the support plate above the latch bar 92 is an enclosed housing I08 carrying a toggle switch I08 which rests upon the upper flat surface 96 of the latch bar 92 and which is appropriately and operatively connected by means of conductor wires IIO to the signal light 56, it being understood that the wires extend through the hollowsignal rod 52. Thus, when flood waters enter the housing through the perforated walls and lift the float 68, the knob I2 at the upper end of the float shaft 64 will slide to the right of Figure 2 within the slot or groove 98 and pivot the latch bar 92 so that the notched end I00 thereof releases the lateral pin 88 carried by the signal rod 52. As the latch 92 pivots, the cam surface I04 of the enlarged shoulder I 02 pushes against the lateral pin 88 and urges it out of the level seat portion 80 of the spiral slot I8, so that the pin spirals down the slot I8, and in so doing the panel 54 rotates from the nondanger position to the danger-signifying position. At the same time, the flat surface 96 of the latch bar 92 pushes upwardly on the taggle switch I08 to energize the signal light 56.

As will be seen clearly in Figures 2 and 9, an arcuate clamp I I2 embraces a tubular member I I4 and secures the same to the bottom supporting plate 22 within the housing. A collar [I6 is suitably secured to the bottom end of the signal rod 52 and is slidably received within the tubular member II4, the bottom free end of the rod 52 including a flanged bearing H8. The bearing is secured to the rod 52,and'collar II6 by means of cross pin I20. Eccentrically pivoted in the bearing as at I22 is a latch or hook I24 which extends through a beveled aperture I26 in the horizontal leg portion of the angle plate 22. Thus when the pin 88 spirals downwardly in the slot I8 of the guide collar, the signal rod 52 moves downwardly and the pivoted latch or hook I24 moves through the aperture I26, and because of its eccentric mounting on the bearing H8, will engage the plate 22, as shown in Figure 9, and prevent upward movement of the signal rod 52 retaining the panel 54 in its danger-signifying position as well as keeping the signal lights 56 on until the entire signal apparatus is reset by hand.

' From the above description it will be seen that when; the signal apparatus is placed on a proper site, flood waters will actuate the float and cause the signal lights 56 to go on while the signal panel 54 will rotate to a danger-signifying position there to be retained by the hook or latching mechanism I22, I24, I26. To reset the signal apparatus', the doors 32, 38 and 40 are opened, the toggle switch. I08'is flipped downwardly to put out the lights 56, the hook or latch l24'is released by hand, and the rod 52 is pushed upwardly until the lateral pin 88 re-engages the notch I00 in the latch bar, 92. It should be remembered that when the signal is set in position alongside a railroad track, steel door 32, panel 54 and red reflector lights 56' are parallel with the track. The green reflector lights 56 are facing lengthwise with the track and trains approaching from either direction would get a clear signal. When flood waters get high enough to operate the signal, the panel and lamps will make a quarter turnand the red reflector lights and opposing red panel faces become exposed to the approaching trains. I

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description isaccordingly deemed unnecessary. It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the. spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: V

1. A high water signal comprising a housing having perforate side walls and a top wall, a signalpanel mounted on a rod extending through said top wall, a float carried on a shaft slidably mounted in said housingguide means in said housing slidably receiving said signal rod, a lateral pin carried by said rod and extending through said guide means, and latch means pivoted in said housing and normally engaging said pin to retain said signal panel in a non-danger signifying position, said latch means being actuated by said shaft upon upward movement of said float to release said pin and a spiral slot engaging said lateral pin to rotate said signal rod to a danger-signifying position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said guide means includes a collar having a spiral slot receiving said lateral pin.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said latch means includes a bar pivoted for vertical movement intermediate its ends, one end of said bar including a notch receiving said lateral pin. 1 -4..The. combination of claim .3- wherein said.

bar includes'an elongated slot, said shaft including a knob slidably received in said slot, said latch bar including a cam adjacent said notch adapted to bear against said lateral pin and urge it downwardly in said spiral slot upon downward pivotal movement of said notch end of said latch bar.

5. The combination of claim 1 and a light mounted on said signal rod, and switch means mounted in said housing operatively connected to said light and actuated by said latch means to energize said light after predetermined upward movement of said float shaft.

6. The combination of claim 1 and means for lockingly retaining said signal in the dangersignifying position, said means including a frame member in said housing having an aperture therethrough and a hook pivoted to the lower end of said signal rod adapted to pass through said aperture and engage said frame member to prevent upward movement of said signal rod.

7. A high water signal comprising a water pervious housing, a float shaft slidably mounted in said housing, a float secured'at the end of said shaft, a latch bar pivotally mounted on said housing, said bar having a longitudinal groove therein, said shaft including a knob slidably received in said groove, a toggle switch mounted in the path of said bar for actuation thereby, a signal rod, said rod being vertically slidable, a laterally extending pin secured to said rod, a spiral slot adjacent said rod, said pin extending through said slot, means on said latch bar engaging said pin for maintaining said rod in elevated position, said latch bar releasing said pin into contact with said spiral slot to rotate said rod, a signal device mounted on said rod.

8. A high water signal comprising a water pervious housing, a float shaft slidably mounted in said housing, a float secured at the end of said shaft, a latch bar pivotally mounted on said housing, said bar having a longitudinal groove therein, said shaft engaging the groove in said 6 bar, a toggle switch mounted in the path of said bar for actuation thereby, a signal rod, said rod being vertically slidable, a spiral slot adjacent said slot, alaterally extending pin secured to said rod, said pin extending through said slot, means on said latch bar engaging said pin for maintaining said rod in elevated position, pivotal movement of said latch bar releasing said pin for sliding motion in said slot for rotating said signal rod, a signal mounted on said rod;

9. A high water signal comprising a water pervious housing, a float shaft slidably mounted in said housing, a float secured at the end of said shaft, a latch bar pivotally mounted on said housing, said bar having a longitudinal groove therein, said shaft including a knob slidably engaging the groove in said bar, a toggle switch mounted in the path of a guide collar about said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 602,852 Johnson Apr. 26, 1898 874,608 Luther Dec. 24, 1907 1,435,986 Scoville Nov. 21, 1922 1,452,173 Scovill Apr. 17, 1923 1,633,608 Sartakoff June 28, 1927 1,834,403 Hull Dec. 1, 1931 2,082,763 Garrison June 1, 1937 2,127,422 Phaneuf Aug. 16, 1938 

